NCJ Number
205110
Date Published
March 2004
Length
74 pages
Annotation
This problem-specific guide examines serious youth gun violence by describing the problem, reviewing risk factors, identifying questions to analyze the problem, and reviewing responses to the problem.
Abstract
Problem-Oriented guides for police, the Problem-Specific guide series, were developed under the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) and summarize knowledge regarding how police can reduce the harm caused by specific crime and disorder problems. They are guides to prevention and to improving the overall response to incidents and are written for all levels of law enforcement. The guides have drawn on research findings and police practices in the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, the Netherlands, and Scandinavia. This problem-specific guide addresses gun violence among serious young offenders. The guide is divided into three main areas: (1) the problem of gun violence among serious young offenders which includes related problems and factors contributing to gun violence among serious young offenders; (2) understanding the local problem by asking the right questions and measuring effectiveness; and (3) responses to the problem of gun violence among serious young offenders including offender-oriented responses, place-oriented responses, and responses with limited effectiveness. The report also presents a summary of responses to gun violence among serious young offenders, the mechanisms by which they are intended to work, the conditions under which they ought to work best, and some factors that should be considered before implementing a specific response. Appendix and references